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WFP Accesses Western Mountains - Starts Ferry Service To Misrata

CAIRO – The World Food Programme has distributed more than 6,000 metric tons of food assistance to more than 543,000 people across Libya since the start of its North Africa Emergency Operation, four months ago. Working with partners, including the Libyan Red Crescent, more than 282,000 people in eastern Libya, and 261,000 in western Libya have received food assistance.

The first UN joint mission to access the Western Mountain region in Libya has found that food security is vital for many in the devastated region, with markets not functioning due to limited fuel and cash, and basic services such as electricity and water also lacking in some areas.

• The World Food Programme (WFP) was part of the UN mission that visited the towns of Wazin, Nalut, Jadu and Zintan.
• According to the inter-agency mission – that also included OCHA, UNHCR and UNICEF – people remaining in the four towns now depend entirely on food assistance provided by WFP and others, including Libyan organizations, international NGOs and private contributions
• Working through NGO partners, WFP is providing food assistance to the most vulnerable people in the devastated Western Mountain area, reaching more than 125,000 people so far.
• WFP has dispatched almost 800 metric tons of food to the Western Mountain region via supply routes across the Tunisian border as well as from inside Libya. As part of the regional emergency response WFP has pre-positioned more than 21,700 metric tons of food assistance for Libya alone inside the country and on the border in Tunisia ready for immediate dispatch.
• In Misrata, WFP has so far provided food assistance to around 125,000. The first Inter-Agency report on the humanitarian siutation in Misrata recently highlighted that while there is no immediate food crisis there, the city continues to rely on external support for all its food needs
• On 1 July, WFP launched the first regular vessel from Benghazi to Misrata port to transport humanitarian cargo and workers. The vessel will make one to two trips each week between the two cities during July.
• In Tunisia, WFP is distributing food assistance to Libyan refugees in five regions in the south (Tataouine, Medenine, Gabes, Kebili and Sfax ) through WFP’s national partner, the Tunisian Red Crescent. Several weeks ago it began providing bread, while other basic food commodities have been added last week. So far more than 13,300 refugees in Tataouine and Medenine have received the full food ration.
• A three-month Special Operation for the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) has already carried more than 1000 passengers from 115 different organisations on 31 flights between Malta, Cairo, Benghazi and , at a total cost of US$4 million.